Police Methods

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31006, 11 March 1966, Page 10

Police Methods

Sir,—While in Cathedral square about 9 o’clock on Saturday, I noticed two policemen on duty outside a wellknown dance spot. Persons who were leaning against buildings or talking in groups on the pavement were moved on down the street in a manner reminiscent, I thought, of the Nazi secret police. The method of these two was to walk right up to a person and stand on his foot while telling him to move on. One person who rightly objected to this treatment, found himself followed, when he walked away, by a policeman treading on his heels. Is the new public image of a policeman that of a clumsy, short-sighted oaf or were these two acting upon orders? I recognise that the police have a job to do. but surely this procedure is unnecessary. A pleasant manner, followed, if necessary, by threats of legal action should suffice. I sincerely hope that this practice is not becoming prevalent in Christchurch, or New Zealand as a whole. We are a democratic country and, as the

common people, expect our rights to be upheld by the police, not encroached upon. —Yours, etc., D. S. MITCHELL. March 7, 1966. [The chief superintendent Christchurch Police District (Mr G. W. Alty) replies: “No complaint has been received in regard to any police action in Cathedral square on Saturday night, March 5, but inquiries are being made regarding the allegations contained in the letter of D. S. Mitchell. Complaints have been received that occasionally on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, members of the public have been deterred from walking through certain portions of Cathedral square by young persons of both sexes with nothing better to do with their time, gathering in considerable numbers, making a nuisance of themselves by impeding traffic, both pedestrian and vehicular, and passing sneering, insulting, and taunting remarks to those members of the public who have to pass through their ranks. This happens when, through force of circumstances, there is a shortage of constables on beat duty. Steps have been taken to alleviate this nuisance as far as possible. The police wish to avoid causing inconvenience or annoyance to any section of the community, but they have a duty to ensure that members of the public have unimpeded freedom of movement through any part of the city without having to run a gauntlet of sneers, taunts, insults, or bad language, and will continue to carry out this duty.”]